Scioscia defends slumping Matsui ... and benches him

DETROIT — Angels manager Mike Scioscia's defense of Hideki Matsui has been far more consistent this season than Matsui's production.

With Matsui in the depths of yet another slump (1 for his past 14), Scioscia benched Matsui for the third time in the past seven games, the first time against a right-handed starter. But Scioscia continued to express confidence that Matsui's next good streak is just around the corner.

"Right now, not a lot of hits are falling in for him. That's obvious," Scioscia said. "You also have to know there's enough baseball left that this can turn around and he can be productive.

"There's a definite chance for him to get his stroke and help us. He's not that far off. But I think sometimes we're projecting numbers and what a guy can do when the only way to find out is to get through it."

Across the board, Matsui's numbers project to be full-season lows for the 36-year-old. But even those totals (.244, 15 home runs, 44 RBI) have been buoyed by two hot streaks, one early in the season and the other in June when he hit .318 with 19 RBI in 25 games).

In 27 games since the end of June, Matsui is batting .204 (19 for 93) with just nine RBI. In fact, in every month besides his hot June, Matsui has batted .220 with 36 RBI in 77 games.

Scioscia points out that there has been "an element of streakiness" throughout Matsui's career.

"Certainly some of his dry spells have been longer this year than you would like," he said. "There are some things he needs to get in gear in the batter's box and we're confident he will."

Scioscia insists he has seen no loss of bat speed with Matsui, a sure sign of aging in a hitter. While the legion of reporters who document Matsui's every move – even on a day spent on the Angels' bench – worry that the Angels might release him (signed to a one-year, $6 million contract), Scioscia assured them Sunday was not a signal that his confidence in Matsui had evaporated and the veteran's playing time would disappear in the final third of the season.

"Yes, the bat speed is there," Scioscia said. "There are some issues with getting comfortable in the batter's box and his balance that every hitter goes through. But there's no doubt the bat speed is still there.

"If you look at his bat speed and what is important to a hitter, it's still in Hideki. But there are some mechanical things and some timing issues that he's battling with."

MIGHTY MAICER

Two games after turning to Bobby Abreu as an unconventional (but statistically appropriate) choice to bat leadoff, Scioscia made another unconventional (but statistically justifiable) lineup choice by starting Maicer Izturis in the cleanup spot.

"With Torii out, we need to get a little creative," Scioscia said, referring to the four-game suspension being served by Torii Hunter who has started 70 games in the cleanup spot.

"If you'd told me in March, we'd have Maicer Izturis hitting cleanup, I wouldn't have believed you. You never know what the season will bring."

It has brought many challenges for Scioscia when it comes to making out a lineup – and he has turned to Izturis for answers an awful lot. Sunday was Izturis' first career start in the cleanup spot but he has now started at least one game in every spot in the batting order during his career including everywhere but ninth this season.

Scioscia puts a high value on Izturis' ability to adapt his at-bats to the situation – particularly with runners in scoring position. Going into Sunday's start, Izturis was batting .349 (15 for 43) with runners in scoring position this season, .329 in his career.

"When you look at the middle of your lineup, obviously you'd like to have someone with the ability to drive the ball," Scioscia said. "But there are other things that are important as far as having the ability to hit with runners in scoring position, putting the ball in play and being versatile. Maicer can do those things. So on a day like this, he is well-suited to hit in the middle of the lineup."

Izturis went 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.

MONDAY

Angels right-hander Ervin Santana (10-8, 4.11) is scheduled to start against Royals right-hander Sean O'Sullivan (1-2, 4.30). Game time is 7:05 p.m. and it will be broadcast on Fox Sports West, KLAA/830 AM and KWKW/1330 AM in Spanish.